Hipotricosis tx con gentamicina topica.

Plain Language Summary

Treatment of hair loss caused by HSS with the antibiotic gentamicin

First published: 01 July 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.19185

Abstract

Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, is a loss of hair from the head or body. Hypotrichosis Simplex of the Scalp (HSS) is a rare hereditary disorder causing loss of scalp hair. Affected individuals, both males and females, suffer from a progressive loss of hair that starts in the middle of the first decade of life resulting in almost complete baldness by the third decade, which is associated with major psychological and sociological impacts on daily life.

HSS is caused by a specific change in the genetic code of the gene CDSN encoding corneodesmosin protein, which is important for the normal function of the skin outer layers and human hair growth. The change in the genetic code results in the production of a short and defective product that accumulates around the hairs and prevents their growth. Despite major advances in medical genetics, there is no treatment for HSS.

Gentamicin is a popular antibiotic therapy which is commonly used for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, gentamycin is known for its ability to bypass the genetic defect that results in abnormal protein production, and in the current study from Israel, the authors aimed to find out if gentamicin could be an effective treatment in HSS.

First, the authors showed that gentamycin can lead to production of a normal protein in cell cultures. Then, the authors performed a clinical trial in which topical (to the skin) application of gentamycin twice daily for 6 months to the scalp of 4 HSS patients resulted in significant hair growth.

In conclusion, the results of this study show that gentamycin is a potential treatment for patients with HSS.